Melbourne City has lifted the inaugural Next Gen Tournament trophy after the three-day tournament brought together some of the country’s brightest young football talents at the City Football Academy, Melbourne – ctrl:cyber Campus at Casey Fields.
The U15 Boys tournament showcased teams from Glen Eira FC, Green Gully, Melbourne Victory, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, and Western United FC, providing an invaluable platform for players to test themselves against high-quality opposition.
Check out all the results from the three day tournament here.
The event attracted junior national team staff, was open to the public, and offered fans an opportunity to catch all the action via live streaming on the Veo Live app.
In the Grand Final, Melbourne City claimed the championship with an impressive 2-0 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
City’s dominance throughout the three-day tournament was underscored by several standout individual performances.
City’s Akeem Gerald was recognised as the tournament’s best player, claiming the Golden Ball, as the Golden Boot award was shared by City’s Thomas Nasso and Western Sydney’s Jake Tadrosse, who both showcased lethal finishing across the three days.
A Weekend of Football Excellence
Reflecting on the tournament’s success, Melbourne City Senior Academy Manager Simon Zappia praised the event’s competitive spirit and the opportunity it provided for player development.
“It was great to be able to host A-League opposition at our home and challenge our players against some of the best in the country. The tournament was played in a fair and competitive environment, with all teams displaying professionalism and respect.
“From our perspective, the boys really showed their quality across the three days, both in terms of our style of football and the individuals within it. It was fantastic to see our Academy program on display and to ultimately achieve success at the end of the tournament.
“The experience of seeing our players challenged in this environment was invaluable, and we’re incredibly proud of their performance.”
A Bright Future Ahead
The Next Gen Tournament provided a glimpse into the future of Australian football, spotlighting the depth of talent within Melbourne City’s Academy and beyond.
We would like to thank and congratulate all participating teams for their involvement in a wonderful weekend of football and to once again congratulate our U15 Boys for their achievement.
